Abstract:

The inventive support structure for a soft ground consists of at least two
elements which comprise a plate [1], on the lower supporting surface of
which three anchoring projections in the form of hooks are made or
secured, one of these projections [9] being located near the end face [5]
and two other [8, 10] being located near side faces [6, 7], and a curved
anchoring element [11], the side surfaces [12] of which are inclined with
respect to the horizontal surface of the plate and have three arc-like
segments [13, 14, 15] projected outside the contour of the plate base.
The invention is characterized in that the side faces [6, 7] of the plate
[1] consist of two parts [16, 19] which are inclined in the opposite
directions with respect to the longitudinal section, in that the end
faces [4, 5] of the plate [1] are inclined in the same direction and in
that stops [20, 21] are provided in the area where the differently
directed parts of the side faces are conjugated.
The inner surfaces of the anchoring elements [8, 9, 10] can be directed at
different angles to the lower surface [3] of the plate [1].

Claims:

1-6. (canceled)

7. A support structure for soft ground including at least first and second
elements, each of the elements comprising:a plate (1) having first and
second end faces (4, 5), first and second side faces (6, 7), a top
surface (2) and a lower supporting surface (3) with three anchoring
projections in the form of first, second and third hooks thereon, wherein
the first hook (9) is positioned proximate the second end face (5), anda
curved anchoring element (11) having side surfaces (12) inclined with
respect to the lower supporting surface, wherein the curved anchoring
element has three arcuate segments (13, 14, 15), that project beyond the
lower supporting surface at the first end face and at the first and
second side faces, providing a space sufficient to engage one of the
hooks,wherein each of the side faces (6, 7) comprises first and second
portions inclined in opposite directions with respect to a longitudinal
section of the plate (1), wherein the end faces (4, 5) are inclined with
respect to a transverse section of the plate (1) in the same direction,
wherein the second and third hooks (8, 10) are positioned proximate the
first portions of the side faces,and wherein the second end face (5), the
first portions (17, 19) of the side faces (6, 7) adjacent to the second
end face, and outside faces of the hooks are inclined at an acute angle
with respect to the top surface (2),and wherein the first end face (4)
and the second portions (16, 18) of the side faces (6, 7) adjacent to the
first end face are inclined at an obtuse angle with respect to the top
surface (2);and wherein the first portions of the first and second side
faces (6, 7) are of unequal length, and wherein the second portions of
the first and second side faces are of unequal length, wherein for each
of the side faces, the first and second portions are separated by a limit
surface (20, 21) that is positioned to inhibit longitudinal movement of
the first and second elements thereby.

8. The support structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the anchoring
element is a punched (22) member.

9. The support structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein inner surfaces of
the second and third hooks (8, 10) are arcuate with respect to the
longitudinal section of the plate (1), and an inner surface of the first
hook (9) is arcuate with respect to a transverse section of the plate
(1).

10. The support structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the inner surface
of the projection-hook (9) near the end face (5) is inclined at an acute
angle with respect to the lower supporting surface (3).

11. The support structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the inner surface
of at least one of the second and third hooks (8, 10) is perpendicular to
the lower supporting surface (3).

12. The support structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the inner surface
of at least one of the second and third hooks (8, 10) is inclined at an
acute angle with respect to the lower supporting surface (3).

Description:

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

[0001]The present invention relates to the area of industrial and civil
engineering and can be used in construction of roads, prefabricated
demountable passages, airfields, foundations of various buildings and
structures, technological platforms of various destination and waterfront
structures, especially on soft grounds.

[0002]Russian Patent Number 2032790 issued on Apr. 10, 1995 (international
classification E02B, 3/12; E01C, 5/06) discloses a support structure of a
building, structure, prefabricated road or airfield coating, with an
anchoring element, made trapeziform in cross section and located on the
side of the bearing surface of the base of the structure and having
arc-like segments, formed with respect to the horizontal plane with
broken lines or curves of constant or sliding in the range of one segment
curvature. The side surface of one of the segments of the anchoring
element, located with respect to the longitudinal axis of the base, has
an incline from the nearer ends of the base to the center or centers of
the curvature of the curved line of the segment, the side surface of the
other segment being inclined from the center or centers of its curvature
or the curvature of the curved line of the segment to the nearer ends of
the base. Besides, the base has two projections in the form of hooks,
located on the side of the bearing surface of the base near side and end
face respectively, the arc-like segments of the anchoring element being
projected in their middle part outside the contour of the base, forming a
nest for locating corresponding projections of other support structures.

[0003]Big material consumption, small holding power and stability, as well
as big labor input in production and construction of such prefabricated
structures make them inconvenient.

[0004]Russian Patent Number 2029815 issued on Feb. 27, 1995 (international
classification E01C, 5/06, FIG. 1) discloses a support structure,
comprising, at least, two plates, on the bearing surface of which
anchoring projections and an anchoring element are located, the side
surface of the latter being inclined in cross direction from the center
of the plate base to its periphery and having closed arc-like segments,
projected outside the contour of the plate base on the size not less than
the width of the anchoring projection.

[0005]However, this construction though having good holding power, is
insufficiently stable and effective under active loads as it
insufficiently distributes loads onto adjacent plates, which leads to a
diagonal inclination error (turn) of support structures.

[0006]The Russian Patent Number 2107768 issued on 27 Mar. 1998
(international classification E01C, 9/00, FIG. 1) discloses a technology
similar to the present invention. The structure consists of at least two
elements, each of the elements comprising a plate, on the lower bearing
surface of which three anchoring projections in the form of hooks are
made or secured, one of the projections being located near the end face,
the other two--located at the side faces, and a curved anchoring element,
the side faces of which are inclined with respect to the horizontal
surface of the plate. The anchoring element contains three arc-like
segments, projected outside the contour of the plate base on the size not
less than the width of the anchoring projection and meant for their
conjugation with anchoring projections of adjacent plates, forming one
whole support construction.

[0007]Despite good holding power and stability on a soft and waterlogged
ground, similarly to the previous one, this support structure is
ineffective because it insufficiently distributes loads onto adjacent
supporting plates, which leads to vertical and horizontal shifts, local
spalls and potholes on faces and angles, uneven coating and results in
plates wear-out, short service life and poor safety.

TECHNICAL ESSENCE OF THE INVENTION

[0008]The engineering problem of the present invention is to increase
holding capacity, safety and service life as well as to provide an even
top surface of a support structure.

[0009]The engineering problem of the present support structure is solved
thanks to its structure, comprising at least two elements, each of the
elements containing a plate, on the lower bearing surface of which three
anchoring projections in the form of hooks are made or secured , one of
the projections being located near the end face, the other two--located
at the side faces, and a curved anchoring element, having the side faces
inclined with respect to the horizontal surface of the plate and three
arc-like segments, projected outside the contour of the plate base on the
size not less than the width of the anchoring projection and in addition
to the forgoing features, each side face of the plate of the present
structure consists of two parts inclined in the opposite directions with
respect to the longitudinal section and end faces of the plate are
inclined in the same direction.

[0010]Besides, the end face and adjacent with it parts of side faces in
the area of anchoring projection-hooks together with outside faces of the
latter are made inclined at a sharp angle to the top surface of the
plate. Besides, on one of the side faces of the plate the length of its
part inclined at a sharp angle to the top surface of the plate is made
longer than a part of its face, inclined at an obtuse angle to the top
surface of the plate, and on other side face of the plate, the length of
its part, inclined at an obtuse angle to the top surface of the plate is
made longer than the part of the face, inclined at an acute angle to the
top surface of the plate.

[0011]Furthermore, on both side faces of the plate, in the area of
conjugation of differently directed parts of one face, stops are formed,
which improves conjunction and prevents adjacent plates from shear
shifting in length and height.

[0012]The inner surfaces of anchoring projections near side faces are
preferably made curved with respect to the longitudinal section of the
plate, the inner surfaces near the end face are made curved with respect
to the cross-section section of the plate.

[0013]In addition, the inner surfaces of the anchoring projection-hooks
can be inclined to the lower surface of the plate at different angles,
namely, the inner surface of the anchoring projection near the end face
being inclined at a sharp angle, and at least one of the inner surfaces
of the anchoring projections near side faces being inclined either at a
right angle or at a sharp angle.

[0014]The structure of the anchoring element can be various, its cross
section representing either a solid flat or curved strip, fixed at an
angle to the plate, or a solid flat strip with a free lower end, curved
inside or outside, or a zigzag solid strip with a free end, curved inside
or outside.

[0015]The best results are achieved when all the variants of the structure
of the anchoring element are made from punched strips.

[0016]The plate of the present structure can be made of ferroconcrete or
another material, with high reliability and elastoviscousness, providing
its secure semi-rigid or rigid conjunction with the anchoring element as
well as rigid fixing of anchoring projection-hooks on it.

[0017]Projections in the form of hooks can be made o ferroconcrete or
sheet, or other metals with high durability, reliability and
elastoviscousness, providing their secure fixation to the lower surface
of the plate of an element of a support structure.

[0018]The anchoring element can be made, for example, from a metal strip
3-6 mm thick or a sheet antibactericidal glass-fiber polymeric material
5-10 mm thick, or from another material possessing high reliability and
elastic-viscous properties and providing its secure semirigid or rigid
fixation on the lower surface of the plate of an element of a support
structure.

[0019]Taking into consideration various conditions and technological
possibilities, as well as economic sense, at manufacturing of a support
structure, anchoring projection-hooks and/or an anchoring element can be
made both as a single whole with a plate, and detachable with it.

[0020]Anchoring projection-hooks are fixed rigidly, an anchoring an
element can be fixed rigidly or semi-rigidly to a plate both in the
course of product manufacturing and on a site.

[0021]The entity of the present invention will be illustrated by the
following drawings when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
description of the preferred embodiment, the latter not including all the
modifications, additions and alterations that may be made to the
invention.

LIST OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022]FIG. 1 is a general (bottom) view of an element of the support
structure, consisting of a plate, an anchoring element and three
anchoring projections in the form of hooks; in an isometry;

[0023]FIG. 2 is a plan view of an assembled support structure with several
plates;

[0024]FIG. 3 is a cut I-I on FIG. 2;

[0025]FIG. 4 is a cut II-II on FIG. 2 with the inner surface of a
projection-hook, perpendicular to the lower surface of the plate;

[0026]FIG. 5 is a cut on FIG. 2 with the inner surface of a
projection-hook inclined at an acute angle to the lower surface of the
plate;

[0027]FIG. 6 is a cut on FIG. 2;

[0028]FIG. 7 is a cross-section of a continuous anchoring element;

[0029]FIG. 8 is a cross-section of a punched anchoring element;

[0030]FIG. 9 is a cross-section of a punched anchoring element with curved
configuration;

[0031]FIG. 10 is a cross-section of a punched anchoring element with a
curved free lower end directed to an outer side;

[0032]FIG. 11 is the same, as FIG. 10, but with the curved free lower end
directed inside;

[0033]FIG. 12 is the same as FIG. 10 where the anchoring element is
supplied with an additional element of fixation in areas, except areas of
three projected arc-like segments;

[0034]FIG. 13 is the same as FIG. 11 where the anchoring element is
supplied with an additional element of fixation in areas except areas of
three projected arc-like segments;

[0035]FIG. 14 is a cross-section of an anchoring element in a zigzag form
with a curved free lower end directed to an outer side;

[0036]FIG. 15 is the same as FIG. 14, with a curved free lower end
directed inside.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0037]With reference to the drawings, each element of a support structure
comprises a plate 1, having a top support surface 2, a bottom support
surface 3, end faces 4 and 5, side faces 6 and 7. On the lower support
surface 3 of the plate 1 anchoring projections in the form of hooks 8, 9,
10 and a curved anchoring element 11 are made or secured, the anchoring
element having its side surfaces 12 inclined to the horizontal plane of
the plate, and having three bow-shaped sites 13, 14, 15 projected outside
the contour of the base of the plate 1 in front of one of end faces 4 and
two side faces 6, 7 on the size not less than that of the width of the
anchoring projection-hook.

[0038]Each of side faces of the plate consists of two parts inclined with
respect to the longitudinal section of the plate 1 in the opposite
directions. The side face 6 is made on the part of the length 16,
inclined at an obtuse angle to the top surface 2 of the plate 1 and on
the part of length 17, inclined at a sharp angle to the top support
surface 2 of the plate 1. Further, the side face 7 is made on the part of
the length 18, inclined at an obtuse angle to the top support surface 2
of the plate 1, and on the other part 19, inclined at a sharp angle to
the top support surface 2 of the plate 1.

[0039]The plane of the part of the length 16 of the face 6 is equal in
length and parallel to the plane 19 of the part of the length of the face
7, the plane 17 of the part of the length 6 is equal in length and
parallel to the plane 18 of the part of the length of the face 7.

[0040]The end faces 4 and 5 are parallel to each other and inclined in the
same direction with respect to the cross section of the plate, the end
face 4 being made at an obtuse angle to the top surface 2 of the plate 1,
the end face 5, in its turn, being made at a sharp angle to the top
surface 2 of the plate 1.

[0041]The end face 5 and adjacent with it parts 17, 19 of the side faces 6
and 7, in the area of the anchoring projection-hooks, together with the
outer faces of the latter, are inclined at a sharp angle to the top
surface 2 of the plate 1.

[0042]The end face 4 and adjacent with it parts (16, 18) of the side faces
6 and 7, in the area of the anchoring element, are inclined at an obtuse
angle to the top surface 2 of the plate 1.

[0043]On one side face 6 of the plate 1 the length of its part 16 is made
longer than its part 17, on the other side face 7 the length of its part
19 is longer than its part 18.

[0044]At side faces 6 and 7 of the plate 1, in the area where the
differently directed parts of one face are conjugated, stops 20 and 21
respectively are provided, which improves conjunction and prevents
adjacent plates from shear shifting in length and height.

[0045]The anchoring element 11 is made punched with through-holes 22. At
the operation of the present structure on a soft ground, the form of the
anchoring element 11 in the cross-section represents a strip with
rectangular cross-section.

[0046]In order to increase holding capacity and stability of the
structure, as well as to reduce edge stress from the anchoring element in
the ground on bogs and over-damped grounds, as well as quick sands, more
sophisticated forms of the anchoring element are appropriate to use. The
cross-section of such forms is shown on FIGS. 8-15.

[0047]FIG. 9 depicts an anchoring element, having in its cross-section a
smoothly curved line, which provides smoothing, reduces pressure and
increases resistance to bending moment under heavy dynamic loads on the
support structure.

[0048]FIGS. 10 and 11 shows a cross-section of an anchoring element of a
support structure which enables to bring into action depth layers of
ground, as well as to reduce pressure, occurring at edge parts in the
lower part of the anchoring element.

[0049]FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a cross-section of the anchoring elements
with the elements of fixation 23, which enable to increase resistance to
bending moment in the areas of fixation of the anchoring element to the
plate, providing for high holding capacity and stability in extreme
operating conditions, for instance, under continuous heavy dynamic load
or seismic exposure.

[0050]In order to secure higher stability of a support structure on soft
ground, especially, in earthquake regions, to reduce frequency and
amplitude of vibrations under dynamic and seismic loads, the anchoring
elements, the cross-section of which is depicted in FIGS. 14 and 15, are
made in the zigzag form.

[0051]Three anchoring projection-hooks and three arc-like segments,
projected outside the contour of the base on each plate, provide for even
steady fixation of the plate all along its perimeter. Owing to the stops
20 and 21 and the end faces and parts of the side faces being made
inclined, smoothness, solidity and integrity of the whole support
structure, preventing plates from shifting in longitudinal, cross-section
and vertical directions, are provided.

[0052]It can thus be seen that the use of the novel characteristics
together with the features of the over known support structure provides
for even coating of a support structure, better load transmission between
the elements of a support structure, eliminating spalls of faces and
edges of plates under any dynamic loads and jolty vehicles.

[0053]In the embodiment of the present structure, as a result of heavy
transport loads on the coating of the support structure, appears a
temporary flexural bowl, in the area of the latter load transmission
transfers to anchoring elements, then to firmer depth layers of the
ground. The load transmission also transfers to plates and anchoring
elements of the adjacent elements of the support structure, the latter,
in their turn, distribute active load onto their adjacent elements of the
support structure and through their own anchoring elements, distribute
load to the depth layers of the ground, as well as the layers of the
grounds, remote from the place of active load.

[0054]The present invention, therefore, allows soft ground to operate
under heavy load, received by the support structure in elastic bending
stage, without overpressure resulting in permanent deformations. This
feature improves holding capacity, reliability and service life of the
support structure.

[0056]The present invention is used in construction of roads,
prefabricated demountable passages, foundations and bases for various
buildings and structures, including, earthwork structures and
stabilization of their slopes. It can also be used in construction of
airfield runways, helicopter decks, sites for construction machinery,
load supporting points, receiving sites of waterfront structures.

[0057]The present invention can also be used in construction of
dismountable roads for heavy machinery to reach the pipeline accident
sites on marshland or in construction of prefabricated demountable
passages on soft grounds, collapsible soils, for example, disposal dumps,
as well as in building seaside and riverside docks, supports of power
supply lines, radio towers, buildings and constructions in ground-level
and above-ground pipeline laying.

[0058]The present invention provides for high stability of foundations,
bases of different structures, roads and passages under dynamic, seismic
and static loads.

[0059]The proposed support structure can be produced in industrial scale
as standard equipment and materials are used in its production.